Senior Telugu Desam Party leader and former minister Mothkupalli Narasimhulu’s comments that the Telangana TDP should merge with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi to boost the sagging morale of the party cadre created ripples in the political circles.

Naturally, the TRS leaders welcomed Mothkupalli proposal, saying it was the best proposal.

“We welcome all the Telangana TDP leaders into the TRS. We all feel like a family, if they join us,” said deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari, who was once a major leader in the TDP from Telangana in the combined Andhra Pradesh regime.

While L Ramana brushed aside Mothkupalli comments saying the TDP is still very strong in Telangana and that it will contest all the 119 seats in the next assembly elections, TDP MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah said some leaders are blackmailing the party leadership for their selfish gains.

Another TDP leader E Peddi Reddy said merger of the party with another party in a particular state is not possible as Telangana TDP is not a separate party but part of the national TDP.

An interesting proposal, however, has come from Kodangal MLA A Revanth Reddy, who had recently defected from the TDP into the Congress party.

“It is ridiculous on the part of Mothkupalli to call for merger of the TDP with the TRS. No party leader or worker with self-respect will agree to such proposal. Instead, it is better the Telangana TDP should merge with the Congress party, which has the bright chances of coming to power. What is the point in joining a party which is going to lose the polls?” he asked.